Coal-grading machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

0. W. PARSONS.

GOAL GRADING MACHINE.

i Lw (Nd Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

(3. W. PARSONS. GOAL GRADING MACHINE.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

G. W. PARSONS. GOAL GRADING MACHINE.

No. 586,510. Patented July 13,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CALVIN \V. PARSONS, OF SGRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

COAL-GRADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,510, dated July 13,1897.

Application filed February 19, 1896. Serial No. 579,898. (No model.)

To all whom, it nzay concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN W. PARSONS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and usef ul Improvements in Coal-GradingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a new and improved machineparticularly designed for screening and grading or sizing coal, butuseful for many other purposes, such as sizing broken rock and othermaterial or substance, the construction of the cooperating parts beingsuch that the coal, rock, or other material is cleaned free from dirt, dust, and fine particles, and pieces of approximately the same size areseparated from pieces of a substantially different size, thus assortingthe coal, rock, or other material into graded or sized lots, free ornearly free from all dirt and dust and with the pieces in eachlot ofapproximately the same size.

The invention also has for its object to successively separate one gradeor size of coal from another in an organized structure possessing suchcharacteristic construction of parts and mode of operation that the onemachine separates the coal into grades or sizes commonly called grate orfurnace, egg, stove, and chestnut.

The invention also has for its object to provide novel means whereby thecoal after passing through a fixed grating is subjected to a beating orstriking action and is subsequently separated to remove the fine stu If,so that there are at least two successive separations and grading of thecoal.

These objects are accomplished in the manner and by the meanshereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of acoal-grading machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view taken on the dotted line 2 2, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is adetail broken plan view for the purpose of showing a portion of one ofthe endless aprons and a portion of one of the gratings to more clearlyillustrate the meshes formed by these parts.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to thedrawings, wherein 1 The numeral 1 indicates a base-frame, on which ismounted the main frame of the machine. This main frame, as well as thebaseframe, may be of any construction suitable for the purpose in hand,but as here shown it comprises uprights or studs 2, 3, 4, and 5, whichconstitute supports for shaft-bearings and other parts, hereinafterexplained.

The uprights or studs, as well as all the longitudinal and transversebars of the main frame, are preferably composed of angle-iron to securea strong, durable, and light structure.

The top portion of the main frame is arranged in proper relation to asuitable coalchute 6, having a verticallymovable gate 7, having itslower end arranged directly over the upper stretch of the primaryendless apron, hereinafter explained' The top end portions of theuprights or studs 3 and 5 are provided with bearings 8 and 9, in whichare mounted transverse shafts 10 and 12. The upright or stud 5 is alsoprovided with bearings 13 and 14, in which are arranged transverseshafts 15 and 16, while the lower portion of the upright or stud 3 isprovided with a bearing 17 for a transverse shaft 18. The shaft 15, ashere shown, is the main driveshaft, and is provided with a belt-pulley19 or other suitable means whereby the driveshaft may be driven throughthe medium of any motor suitable for the purpose. The drive-shaft 15 isalso provided with a pinion 20, meshing into spur-gears 2'1 and 22 ofdifferent diameter,mounted,respectively,on the shafts 12 and 16, wherebythese shafts are rotated at different speed.

The uprights or studs 2 and 4c are provided,

respectively, with upper bearings 23 and 2a The shafts 10 and 12 areprovided, respectively,with sprocket-wheels 31 and 32, around which passendless chain belts 33.

The shafts l6 and 18 are provided, respectively, with sprocket-wheels 34and 35, around which pass endless chain belts 36.

The shafts 27 and 28 are provided, respectively, with sprocket-wheels 37and 38, around which pass the endless chain belts 39.

The shafts 29 and 30 are provided with similar sprocket-wheels and 41,around which pass the endless chain belts 42.

As here shown, each transverse shaft, eX- cept the drive-shaft 15, isprovived with three sprocket-wheels arranged to operate inconnectionwith three endless chain belts, one of the sprocket-wheels and one ofthe chain belts being approximately at the longitudinal center of thestructure. This construction is preferable in that it secures alongitudinal central support for the transverse equidistant bars formingparts of the aprons. It will be obvious, however, that the centralsprocketwheels and chain belts can be omitted, or additionalsprocketwheels and chain belts employed to meet the conditions required,according to the width of the aprons and gratings. The sprocket-wheelson the end portions of the uppermost transverse shafts are arranged at agreater distance apart than the sprocket-wheels on the transverse shaftsimmediately below the same, and this order of decreasing distancebetween the end sprocketwheels is carried out to the lowermost set oftransverse shafts, as will be best seen by reference to Fig. 9.

The endless chain belts are all provided with transverse bars, as at 43,having'their ends and central portions properly connected with the linksof the chain belts. .The endless chain belts and the transverse barsconstitut-e what I will term endless aprons, the upper stretches ofwhich are adapted to travel, respectively, over thegratings 44, 45, 46,and 47. These gratings are each composed of a series of longitudinalbars separated a suitable distance apart, so that the longitudinal barsof each grating, in combination with the transverse bars of each endlessapron, cooperate to produce rectangular meshes, (best seen in Fig. 3,)which are suitable for grading or sizing coal, as well as screening thesame from dirt, dust, and the like.

In the example of my invention illustrated in the drawings the endlessaprons are all arranged in an alternating manner, one above another, sothat the inner end portion of one endless apron overlaps or projectsslightly past the inner end portion of the adjacent apron.

The framework of the machine is constructed or provided with a series ofplatforms or tables 48, 49, 50, and 51, arranged in an alternatingmanner, so that the outer end portions of the lower stretches of theendless aprons are adapted to traverse or move over these platforms ortables.

The ends of the main frame are provided with attached chute-boards 52,53, 54, and 55, Fig. 1, which are inclined in a downwardly directionfrom the frame for the purpose of delivering, conducting, or deflectingto the points desired the pieces of coal which pass over the outer endsof the endless aprons. These chute-boards extend substantially the fullwidth of the main frame and they are arranged, respectively, under theouter ends of the four endless aprons.

At a point between the upper and lower stretches of each of the firstthree belts, at the inner end portion thereof, is arranged an inclinedchute-board 56, Fig. 1, designed for directing the coal and other matterpassing through the inner end portions of the upper stretches of theaprons and gratings in a direction toward'the platforms or tables 48,49, 50, and 51, over which the lower stretchesof said aprons travel.

In the construction of the machine I prefer to employ longitudinalguard-rails 57 and 58, arranged along the longitudinal side edges ofeach apron, as best seen in Fig. 2, for the purpose of preventing thecoal from passing off laterally from the aprons. If I employ a centralsprocket-wheel and central chain belt in connection with each apron, Iprefer to employ a guard-rail 59, arranged centrally of the machine andextending longitudinally thereof directly above each central chain belt,so that the coal and other material will not pass through the aprons andgratings at the points where the longitudinal grating-bars are a'littlemore widely separated to accommodate the sprocket-wheels and the endlesschains, as will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 2. The mainframe is also provided with longitudinal boards or plates 60 and 61,located between the upper and lower stretches of each belt andconverging in a direct-iontoward the longitudinal center of the-machinein such manner that the coal and other material passing between thelongitudinal bars of the several gratings will be properly directed uponthe lower stretches of the belts and thus prevented from laterallyescaping or passing to or off at the sides of the belts, which mightlikely obstruct the action of the working parts.

The transverse bars forming parts of the endless belts are equidistantapart in each belt; but in the machine illustrated in the drawings,which is designed to screen and grade, beginning with the largest sizedown is employed, the largest or coarsest coal will befirst separated,then the next largest or coarsest size, and so on throughout the ma- Ido not, however, wish to be underchine.

stood as confining myself to this arrangement of the parts,for obviouslythe reverse arrangement can be employed, in which event the primaryseparation will be the fine coal, or chestnut coal, and the larger orcoarser grades subsequently separated. This is not, however, sodesirable as the plan shown in the drawings, because where the fine orchestnut coal is first separated the operation is more difficult, as theuppermost and fine screen necessarily requires to handle the entire massof coal which enters the machine, and as parts of the fine apron arenecessarily small the wear is likely to be excessive, and thereforeobjectionable. Further, it is more difficult to separate the fine fromthelarger stuff which is mixed through it and to discharge it freelythan it is to separate the larger lumps out from the mass of smallerstuff. I find that the operation of grading is more conveniently andeasily accomplished by separating the largest size first, eachsucceeding separation being of large from small in order of succession.

The transverse shafts 28 and 30 are provided, respectively, with pulleysor sprocketwheels 62 and 63 of different diameter, which are gearedthrough the medium of a belt or sprocketchain 6st, Fig. 2, with a pulleyor sprocket-wheel 65 on the main shaft 15. In Fig. 3 the belt orsprocket-chain 6% is indicated by full lines, while in Fig. 1 the beltor LII sprocket-chain and the pulleys or sprocket wheels 62 and (33 aremerely indicated by lines. This is done for the purposes of betterillustration of the parts, &c., appearing in Fig. 1.

The gearing described and shown causes the endless aprons toalternately-move in opposite directions and imparts to the two upperaprons a speed less than the speed imparted to the two lower aprons.

In the practical operation of my improved coal-grading machine the massof coal is delivered by the coal-chute 6 under the gate '7 and is fedforward by the action of the upper stretch of the primary endless apron.The flow of the coal is determined by the height of the gate above theapron and by the rate of movement or speed of such apron. The gate ismovable to and from the primary apron and cooperates with the latter toconstitute an automatic feed, whereby the quantity of material receivedby the upper stretch of the primary apron is determined, chiefly, by themovement of said apron. The larger lumps or pieces of coal, commonlygrate or furnace coal, cannot pass through the meshes formed bythetransverse equidistant bars 43 and the longitudinal grating-bars 44:,and consequently these larger lumps or pieces are carried off at theouter end of the primary apron and delivered to the chute-board 52 orother suitable contrivance, by which the coal first separated isconducted to the point desired. The mass of material susceptible ofpassing through the meshes formed by the 'bars43 and at falls toward thelowermost stretch of the primary apron, the greater portion passing tothe primary platform or table 48 and the remainder onto the chute 56 andbetween the bars 43 of the lowermost stretch of the apron to the innerend portion of the secondary apron. The primary apron travels in thedirection of the arrow, and the transverse bars 43 of the lowermoststretch of the apron sweep the mass of material along the platform ortable 48 onto the inner end portion of the secondary apron. The samemode of operation now takes place withrespect to the secondary apron,and the second grade of coal is separated in much the same manner as thefirst grade, and the order of successive operations follows throughoutthe machine in such manner that the second or egg size of coal passesoff at the chute-board 53, the third or stove size passes off at thechute 54, and the fourth or chestnut size passes off at the chute 55,while the dust and dirt in the fourth grade passes through the inner endportion of the lower stretch of the fourth separating-apron.

As before stated, the drawings represent the aprons designed to travelalternately in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 1,and the transverse bars and longitudinal grating-bars are so arrangedthat the largest size of coal is first separated, each succeedingoperation being of large lumps or large size from small lumps or smallsize; but I wish it understood that the arrangement of the endlessaprons and grating illustrated in the drawings is only typical of manyarrangements that may be employed, and, further, that the direction ofmovements of the several aprons and the speed thereof may be varied andthe driving mechanism may be a1- tered or changed without affecting thespirit of my invention, as I believe myself to be the first to producean organized coal screening and grading machine wherein a plurality ofmovable endless aprons having transverse equidistant bars cooperate withgratings composed of longitudinal separated bars with mechanism gearedwith and imparting suitable motion to all of the aprons.

The alternating arrangement of the aprons illustrated in the drawings ispreferable in that it affords ample room for access to the machinebetween the aprons,while permitting them to be arranged comparativelyclose together for the purpose of securing a compact structure.

The number of aprons and gratings can be increased, if desired, butordinarily a gang of four aprons and four gratings is sufficient toobtain the usual grades of coal commonly termed grate or furnace, egg,stove, and chestnut.

A feature of my invention which is important and valuable in cleaning orgrading coal resides in the fact that the coal which passes through theupper stretch of the apron has ahorizontal movement of the same kind andvelocity as the upper stretch of the apron-= I On say two hundred feetper minute to the right. The lower stretch of the apron moves, say, twohundred feet per minute to the left, and when the coal falls upon thelower stretch the transverse bars strike it with a virtual velocity of,say,four hundred feet per minute. The blow is sufficient to dislodge anddetach all the fine stuff which may adhere to the coal, which fine stuffis particularly troublesome in working wet coal. This beating action maybe increased, if necessary, by causing the successive aprons to run inthe same direction. Then the coal which drops through the lower stretchof the first apron will receive a similar blow in the opposite directionwhen it encounters the bars in the upper stretch of the second apron.Ordinarily coal is not so sticky as to require the increased beatinglast above mentioned, but if it should be required the v machine can bereadily adapted to secure the necessary beating.

The endless apron, comprising transverse bars, will of itself separatecoal as well, if not better, than a simple series of inclined gratingscomposed of longitudinal bars and as has heretofore been proposed.

The endless grating, composed of transverse bars, possesses theadvantage that the height and length of room required to operate suchmachine is considerably less than is necessary with a grader composedsolely of longitudinal bars.

The endless grating, composed of transverse bars, is also advantageousin that it is self feeding and regulating, because the amount ofmaterial which can pass under the gate 7, Fig. 1, is governed by thespeed of the apron.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A coal-gradingmachine, combining in 0 its structure a plurality of independentgratings, each composed of a series of longitudinal separated bars, aplurality of movable endless aprons arranged respectively in operativeconnection with and traveling over said gratings, and each comprising aseries of transverse bars cooperating with the longitudinal grating-barsto form meshes, the dimensions or'size of which vary in the severalaprons, and gratings, a series of platforms or tables arrangedrespectively under the lower stretches of the several aprons and overand along which the transverse bars thereof sweep the material from oneapron to another, and mechanism for imparting motion to all the aprons.

2. The combination in a coal-grading machine, of a plurality ofalternately-arranged independent gratings, each composed of a series oflongitudinal separated bars,a plurality of alternating endless apronstraveling alternately in opposite directions and each comprising aseries of transverse bars cooperating with the longitudinal grating-barsto form meshes, the dimensions or size of which vary in the severalaprons and gratings, transverse shafts supporting and serving to movethe aprons, a single main drive-shaft, and gearing between saiddrive-shaft and a shaft of each apron for simultaneously moving all ofthe aprons. v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CALVIN W. PARSONS.

Witnesses:

WM. F. BOYLE, CHAS. E. OLVER.

